Countries › Panama › Guide › 8. Immigration › Visiting Panama for business: the 90 day tourist stay, visas for restricted nationalities, the 60 day extension to change status and fines for overstays and unauthorized work
Visiting Panama for business: the 90 day tourist stay, visas for restricted nationalities, the 60 day extension to change status and fines for overstays and unauthorized work
Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Status: Stable
Tourists may stay up to 90 days under Decreto Ley 3 de 2008, and nationals who need a visa pay B/.50 and show at least B/.500 of means. A tourist who is preparing a residence application can ask for one extension of up to 60 days, paying B/.250 in advance and a B/.500 guarantee deposit. Working for pay without authorization is fined B/.1,000 the first time and B/.5,000 the second, with cancellation of the permit the third time, and an irregular stay costs B/.50 per month or fraction overdue.
Panama's currency, the balboa (B/.), is at par with the US dollar, which circulates as legal tender; the Superintendencia de Bancos states that the balboa's value is on a par with the US dollar (checked 29 October 2026). USD figures therefore equal the balboa figures.
Key facts
| Maximum tourist stay | 90 daysDecreto Ley 3 de 2008 art. 16, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
|---|---|
| Extension for a tourist preparing a change of category | 60 daysDecreto Ley 3 de 2008 art. 17, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Tourist visa migration services fee (visa nationals) | 50 PABDecreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 17 (Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2009), as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Minimum proof of means for a tourist visa | 500 PABDecreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 17 (Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2009), as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Fine for working without authorization, first offense | 1000 PABDecreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 313 num. 2, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Fine for irregular stay per month or fraction | 50 PABDecreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 313 num. 5, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Exchange rate used for USD conversions | 1 PAB per USDBalboa at par with the US dollar (Superintendencia de Bancos), as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
The rule
1. Tourists come exclusively for recreation and similar activities and may stay no more than ninety days, without prejudice to ratified treaties and reciprocity. A non resident must have own resources for the stay and leave when the authorized period ends.Decreto Ley 3 de 22 de febrero de 2008, art. 16, 2008-02-22 official text · verified 2026-10-29
2. Nationals who need a tourist visa apply with a form, a passport valid for at least three months, an onward ticket, an identity or residence document from their country of domicile, three photos (except for visas filed in Panama), a B/.50 migration services fee and proof of means of at least B/.500 (bank certificate, credit card statement, work certificate, pension proof or similar), plus an invitation letter where relevant.
Cost to do it: B/.50 visa fee (US$50) plus proof of at least B/.500 (US$500) of means.
Example: B/.50 fee; B/.500 minimum means. / US$50 fee; US$500 minimum means.Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 17 as worded by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2 de marzo de 2009 art. 4, art. 17, 2009-03-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
Cost to do it: B/.50 visa fee (US$50) plus proof of at least B/.500 (US$500) of means.
Example: B/.50 fee; B/.500 minimum means. / US$50 fee; US$500 minimum means.Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 17 as worded by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2 de marzo de 2009 art. 4, art. 17, 2009-03-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
3. A visa issued abroad to enter Panama lapses if not used within three months, and a temporary or permanent residence visa within six months.Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 15 as worded by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2009 art. 3, art. 15, 2009-03-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
4. A tourist may request a change of migration category and be granted an extension of up to sixty additional days to complete the documents.Decreto Ley 3 de 2008, art. 17, 2008-02-22 official text · verified 2026-10-29
5. With the extension request the tourist files simple copies of the supporting documents. If approved, the tourist pays in advance the B/.250 migration services fee and lodges a B/.500 guarantee deposit with the Servicio Nacional de Migración. If the full residence application is filed in time the deposit is returned; otherwise it goes to the Migration Trust Fund and the foreigner must leave within five calendar days.
Cost to do it: B/.250 advance fee plus B/.500 refundable guarantee deposit (US$750 in total, US$500 refundable).
Example: B/.750 paid on approval, of which B/.500 comes back if the residence file is complete on time. / US$750, of which US$500 is refundable.Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 arts. 24 and 25 as worded by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2009 arts. 6 and 7, arts. 24 and 25, 2009-03-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
Cost to do it: B/.250 advance fee plus B/.500 refundable guarantee deposit (US$750 in total, US$500 refundable).
Example: B/.750 paid on approval, of which B/.500 comes back if the residence file is complete on time. / US$750, of which US$500 is refundable.Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 arts. 24 and 25 as worded by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2009 arts. 6 and 7, arts. 24 and 25, 2009-03-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
6. Migration infractions are fined by the Servicio Nacional de Migración: not carrying identification B/.10; a migrant who works or carries on gainful activities without authorization B/.1,000 the first time, B/.5,000 on repeat and cancellation of the migration permit the third time; an irregular migrant B/.50 per month or fraction of a month overdue; an irregular migrant married to a Panamanian or with a Panamanian child B/.100 per month up to B/.1,000; false statements or forged documents to obtain a tourist extension or change of category lead to cancellation, then deportation, then expulsion.
Example: Overstaying 2 months and 10 days counts as 3 months or fractions: 3 x B/.50 = B/.150. / US$150.Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 313 as worded by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2009 art. 63, art. 313 numerals 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, 2009-03-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
Example: Overstaying 2 months and 10 days counts as 3 months or fractions: 3 x B/.50 = B/.150. / US$150.Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 313 as worded by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2009 art. 63, art. 313 numerals 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, 2009-03-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
| Infraction | First time | Repeat | Third time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not carrying identification | B/.10 | B/.10 | B/.10 |
| Working without authorization | B/.1,000 | B/.5,000 | Cancellation of the permit |
| Irregular stay | B/.50 per month or fraction overdue | ||
| Irregular stay, married to a Panamanian or with a Panamanian child | B/.100 per month up to B/.1,000 | ||
| Not reporting a change of address to the Foreigners Registry | B/.100 | Cancellation | Deportation |
Selected migration fines, Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 313 as worded by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2009
Worked example
- A sales director visits Panama for meetings and stays 20 days: no permit is needed for a genuine visit, but signing local employment or being paid locally would be work without authorization (B/.1,000, about US$1,000, for a first offense).
- A tourist who decides to apply for residence on day 70 asks for the 60 day extension, pays B/.250 in advance and a B/.500 deposit, and gets the B/.500 back once the complete residence application is filed in time.
Step by step
- Check whether your nationality needs a visa before booking; carry an onward ticket and proof of means.
- Keep the purpose of the trip within visiting activities; plan a work permit or a work enabled status before any local paid work.
- If you will apply for residence, file the extension request through a lawyer before the tourist stay expires; the requirement sheet of the Servicio Nacional de Migración asks for ten working days of lead time.
- Track your entry date and leave on time; fines accrue per month or fraction.
Common traps
- The extension is only for completing a change of category, not to prolong a holiday, and the B/.500 deposit is lost if the file is not completed on time.
- A fraction of a month counts as a full month for the overstay fine.
- Visas issued by consulates abroad lapse if unused for three months.
- Treaties and reciprocity can change the tourist rules for specific nationalities; check the current position for your passport.
Sources
- Decreto Ley 3 de 22 de febrero de 2008, creating the Servicio Nacional de Migración, Gaceta Oficial 25986 (Legispan scan)
- Decreto Ejecutivo 26 de 2 de marzo de 2009, amending Decreto Ejecutivo 320, Gaceta Oficial 26238 (Legispan scan)
- Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 8 de agosto de 2008, regulation of Decreto Ley 3, Gaceta Oficial 26104 (Legispan scan)
- Servicio Nacional de Migración, migration permits page with official requirement sheets
- Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá, historical review (balboa at par with the US dollar)
Related pages
- immigration/immigration-system-overview
- immigration/remote-worker-visa
- immigration/working-in-panama-as-a-foreigner
- /country/panama/
- /calendar/
- Live dashboard
Related: Panama country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X
← Panama's immigration system: non resident, temporary and permanent categories, the two year provisional permit, and the B/.250 fee plus B/.800 repatriation depositPanama's qualified investor residence (golden visa) under Decreto Ejecutivo 17 de 2026: B/.300,000 new property, B/.500,000 resale property or securities, B/.500,000 to B/.750,000 deposits →
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